Palisades Fire Management and Operations Briefing

Jan 15, 2025

Palisades Fire Briefing Notes

Overview

  • Division Union: Gained depth, mop-up, and tactical patrol.
  • Division Yankee: Medical incident with quick response for a knee injury.
  • Progress on contingency lines, mastication, and cleanup activities.
  • Manville Canyon: Heavy equipment to address hot spots and railroad ties.
  • Exterior Canyon: Continuing mastication and chipping for contingency lines.

Management Objectives (Page 202)

  • Fight fire aggressively while maintaining safe practices.
  • Focus on safeguarding residents and resources of LA City and County.
  • Minimize damage to structures and public/private property.
  • Facilitate efficient repopulation.
  • Protect natural, cultural, and heritage resources.
  • Maintain positive relationships with cooperators and stakeholders.
  • Ensure accurate and timely public information release.
  • Align costs with mission priorities.

Control Objectives

  • Keep fire north of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Keep fire south of US 101.
  • Keep fire east of Malibu Canyon.
  • Keep fire west of Interstate 405.

Weather Update (Page 3)

  • Red Flag Warning until 6 p.m.
  • Morning winds: North Northeast 25-40 mph gusts.
  • Afternoon: Winds diminish, shift to Northeast easterly.
  • Lower elevations: North Northeast winds, later battling up Canyon southerly flow.
  • Humidity: 15-25% in the morning, dropping throughout the day.
  • Evening: Weak Northerly winds into tomorrow morning.

Fire Behavior (Page 4)

  • Critical fire environment due to dry fuels, winds, and low RH.
  • Conditions: 97th and 90th percentiles for burning index and ERC.
  • Caution with ash pits, weakened trees, and infrastructure.

Operations Priorities

  1. North Half of Fire: Secure and deepen control lines.
  2. Bottom Half (USAR Units): Support USAR efforts, maintain structure presence, and cleanup.
  3. Structure Defense Groups: Build defensible space and contingency plans.

Communication and Coordination

  • Air Operations: Large support with over 40 rotor wing and 20 fixed-wing aircraft.
  • Use zones for media requests and validate UAV operations.

Medical Unit (Page 41)

  • Review medical plans with personnel.
  • Importance of providing necessary information during emergencies.
  • Cal Mat: Location for medical supplies and peer support.

Safety

  • Maintain situational awareness, avoid complacency, and ensure adequate rest.
  • Red Flag Warning: Potential for increased distance from line emergencies.
  • Foot traffic to remain on paths.

Training

  • Accountability for training assignments.
  • Check-in requirements for documented credit.

Public Information

  • Acreage: 23,713 acres, Containment: 19%.
  • Community engagement is crucial to manage anxiety and frustration.
  • Nightly virtual community meetings for public information.

Unified Commander's Closing Comments

  • Importance of maintaining communication with family.
  • Emphasizing the concept of "one team" in the fire service.
  • Encouragement to maintain safety and complete the mission successfully.

Additional Meetings

  • Branch and division breakouts after briefing.
  • Unassigned resources and cooperators to meet at designated times.